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Le Message

Paris: Hermann, 1967. First Edition. A rare early work by the acclaimed Belgian painter and illustrator, published two years prior to his first one-man show in New York. Folon's hopeful note regarding Shahn's health is particularly poignant, as it must date from early April 1967 - the beginning of a precipitous decline in Shahn's health which would end in his death in early 1969, and just weeks before the sudden, devastating death in London of his daughter Susanna. Folon's reference to permissions for Shahn's Sacco-Vanzetti paintings is elusive; we can find no evidence that Folon ever borrowed the Sacco-Vanzetti theme in his own work. Original black linen-covered boards with paper cover label, 9.5cm x 12.5cm; unpaged (24 leaves). Warmly and lengthily inscribed to Ben Shahn on second blank, in Folon's miniscule hand: "Mr. Ben Shahn, Un grand merci pour votre lettre et pour l'autorisation concernant Sacco-Vanzetti. Bien entendu, il faut r'conter le docteur mais je suis certain que vous serez tres vite en grande forme, et en magnifique santé, et fin-avril, ce sera une immense joie de vous revoir à Roosevelt.." Mild wear and light soil to covers; internally fine.